LAP-BAND surgery in NJ is a minimally invasive, fully reversible and adjustable weight-loss procedure in which a soft silicone band is placed around the upper stomach to limit food intake — and at Nusbaum Medical Centers in Cedar Knolls, it is performed and managed by Michael Nusbaum, MD FACS · FASMBS, a bariatric surgeon with 25+ years of experience, for patients who want lasting results without permanent alteration of their anatomy.
How the LAP-BAND Works
The LAP-BAND is an adjustable silicone band placed laparoscopically around the upper portion of the stomach, creating a small pouch above it. This gently restricts how much you can eat at one time and helps you feel full sooner and longer. Unlike the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, no part of the stomach is removed, cut or stapled, and the digestive tract is left intact.
The band connects to a small port under the skin, allowing your surgeon to add or remove saline in a quick office visit. Tightening increases restriction; loosening relaxes it. This adjustability is the band's signature advantage — your treatment can be tuned to your body's needs throughout your journey, and reversed entirely if ever necessary.
Key Benefits of Adjustable Banding
For the right patient, the LAP-BAND offers a distinct combination of control and reassurance that other procedures cannot match.
- Fully reversible — the band can be removed and the stomach returns to its normal anatomy
- Adjustable — restriction is fine-tuned with simple saline adjustments, no additional surgery
- No stomach removal or rerouting — anatomy is preserved, and nutrient absorption is largely unchanged
- Minimally invasive — smaller incisions and typically a quicker recovery than stapling procedures
- Lower malnutrition risk than malabsorptive procedures, since digestion is not rerouted
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recognizes adjustable gastric banding as one of the established bariatric options, each with its own profile of risks and benefits worth discussing with your surgeon.
Are You a Candidate?
LAP-BAND surgery is generally considered for adults with a BMI of 40 or higher, or 35 and above with an obesity-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea or hypertension. It especially appeals to patients who value reversibility and a gradual, adjustable approach over more definitive procedures.
That said, banding is not the best fit for everyone. During your consultation, Dr. Nusbaum evaluates your health history, weight-loss goals and lifestyle to recommend the most effective path — which may be the band, a stapling procedure, the gastric balloon, or a non-surgical medical weight loss program. Because our center offers the full spectrum of surgical weight loss, the recommendation is guided by your needs, not a single product.
Insurance Coverage and Continued Care
Many New Jersey insurance plans cover bariatric surgery when medical-necessity criteria are met — typically documented BMI thresholds, a supervised weight-loss attempt and evaluation of related health conditions. Our team helps you understand your specific coverage and navigate the pre-authorization process so there are no surprises.
The band's real value emerges after surgery. Adjustments, nutrition guidance and consistent follow-up are what turn the tool into lasting results. Based in Cedar Knolls and serving all of Morris County and New Jersey, Nusbaum Medical Centers provides that continuity of care. To learn whether the LAP-BAND is right for you, book a consultation with Dr. Nusbaum's team.
